Trump Announces That He Will Pick Reporters Allowed in Briefings

Donald Trump planned to move the White House briefing room to a larger location to accommodate more reporters but the media went crazy, so Trump has decided to keep the 49 seat briefing room as it is. But there is one big change coming. No longer will a member of the media decide who gets access because Trump will now decide which outlets will be allowed in.

“The press went crazy, so I said, ‘Let’s not move it.’ But some people in the press will not be able to get in,” Trump told Fox in the interview broadcast on Wednesday.

“We have so many people that want to go in so we’ll have to just have to pick the people to go into the room – I’m sure other people will be thrilled about that,” he said. “But we offered a much larger room because we need a much larger room and we offered to do that, but they went crazy.”

“And they’ll be begging for a much larger room very soon, you watch.”

The current press room has about 49 seats, which are assigned by the White House Correspondents Association (WHCA). The current president of the WHCA is Jeff Mason, a Reuters correspondent.

Moving the briefing room could reduce access to White House officials, as the room is only steps from the Oval Office.